Suction cleaner brush



1 D. G. swuaLLua "SUCTION CLEANER BRUSH Filed May'le, 1940 3 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR Smellze ATTORNEY Getz?, 1942. QGSMELUE 2,300,267r

sUcTIoN CLEANER BRUSH- I Filed May 16, 1949 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR v ATTORNEYS y kga/@iwi .Y

Od- 27,*1942. D. c. MEME 2,300,267

SUCTION CLEANER BRUSH Filed May 1e, 1940 s sheets-sheet 3 I gNvENToR onald G. S me Zie modifications in the bristle elements in such suc- .tion cleaner brushes.v 5

.driven at highgspeed in contact with. a surface f feovering undergoing cleaning. The brush, pref- --erably removable, .and comprising tufts of bristles-secured in the'brush back, is rotated @thigh .speed and extends into contact with .the Ycovering where it performs the func 1on...of""

' foreign litter therefrom. Heretofore it has ybeen w the practice to make use of animal hairs as bristles in brushes of this type and horse hairs have come worn at a relatively rapid rate thereby reto form sharp, pointed spear-like elements havlwear 'upon that covering;

.bristles heretofore used. This material is a syn- Patented Oct. 27, 1 1942 y 1 sUCTIoNoLEANEnBRUsH DonaldY G.Smel1ie, Canton, Ohio, `assignor tofThe' HooverCompany, North .C'anton,=0hio, a

i rationzof-` Ohio Application May 16, 1940,':seria1N0- 335,480'

3 Claims. (Cl: 30o-21) The presentiiiivention relates to .suction cleaner agitator brushes, the method ofmaking same, and particularly to certain improvements and Y The modern suction cleaner embodies surfacef brushing means and also .preferably .surfacebeating. means. AThe'formerfrmaybe eitherpositively actuated or fixedlyinounted to the body ofthe machine. `The presentiinvention is applicable either to the positively. actuated or stationarybrushing. means butis particularly advantagous inthe former because of the greater work performed by that type of brush and the attendant severe operating requirements. The usual rotary brush in a suctioncleaner is. motor straightening' the pile and alsoof. dislodgingthe been found to be as satisfactory as most. Animal hairs when so used are found to have certaif'n definite weaknesses and disadvantages. They b e-"-4 l 30 quiring frequent replacement.. fAdditionally,

' during use the -bristle ends in Contact lwit-lathe surface covering wear away on the `forwar'id--side ing undesirable. covering.` wearing and tearing characteristics. Suchl bristlesY tend to split andV break .off thereby effecting various lengths. These factors result in variation in the flexibility of the brush tufts and in the performance characteristics. VAnimal hairs vary in size and diameterv and'correspondingly in flexibility thereby producing brush elements of uncertain stiffness.

They are also objectionable in that they absorb-f moisture from the air resulting in varying characteristics under changing weather conditions. Finally they vary in curvature and shape in cross section and when sufficiently stiff to brush vigorously a surface covering undergoing cleaning are likely to be characterized by excessive l 50 There has been discovereda new synthetic material which will be more fully identified. hereinafter and'which is freefrom mostof the objections which characterize the' animal brush 'i thetic organic compound which is not vfound in nature. It may be manufactured in continuous lengths of a diameter most suitable for agitator brush bristles and which may be cut into lengths suitable for mounting in the brush. A preferred i0 form of they artificial fiber comprises afsynthetic linear Vcondensationpolyamide. 'The class is known broadly 'as p'olyamides :and is -no`w avail- E able to Vthe public underA the: name of Nylon.

Tests of agitators iembodyingxbrush bristles made' of .this-new syntheticbei d isclosesthat anr increased brush lifey is obtainedythat surface covering wear .and the power required to actuatethe ,brush arereduced. i 10 Theinvention'is perhaps-'best understood by reference to the 'accompanying drawings. in which:

Figure 1 is aside view of a suction cleaner ywith certain parts broken away anddisclosing embodied therein a rotary agitator'whichincludesa brush element constructed `in-accordancel with the present invention;v

" Figure`2 isa partial View of the rotary agitator with part of thebody thereofbrokenl away toi illustrate theagitator brushpositioned therein;

"Figure 3 is'a View in perspective 'of thebrush element perse; j Figure .4 is a diagrammatic view of the means ...employed in Vthe :process Vof Amaking the equal length bristles employed'in the'prese'nt yinven- V tion; v -Y Figure 5 is a'view of an alternative method; Figure'k isa diagrammatic View of the bristlefeeding step inthe brush-making operation;

Figure] is. a View in perspective of the unfolded tuft-of arti'cial fibersand the encircling staple; Figure 8 'is a partial longitudinal section .I

l .through the agitatorbrush elementfshowing the". insertionof thejbrush tuft andf'stapleinto'th'e brush seat in the brush back; Y

Figure 9 illustrates a' plurality of 'brush tufts .secured in position with the staples"locked in. v

place in theA brush back;

Figure l0is..a diagrammatic showing o f a plurality of synthetic organic-'bristles after-being subjected to considerable surface contact `and wear; Y i

Figure llis a diagrammatic showingof animal bristles .such as horsehair after-)being subjected Y. l

to a vsimilaramountA of wear.A ,Y 4The synthetic'material which is usedv in carryingr out the ,present inventionis a member of a classof materials'knpwn generally as A synthetic organic compounds. A'preferred type comprises a synthetic linear condensation polyamide and is completely disclosed and claimed in the patent to Cai-others alosiadated' september 20, .19'38.` .The product disclosed in thesaid patent is also .knownas Nylon andmay, as indicated, be taken as a preferred-example of synthetic organic materials which canbe made into flexible filaments of smooth, uniform cross section. The filaments must be wear-resisting, non-brittle and inVv preferred formsfshow, by characteristic X-ray dife" fraction patterns, orientation along the filament seat I2 and to be provided with a resilient contact pad I6. At its opposite end a screw II extends through an opening .I8 in the brush back \and is secured at its inner end into the brush seat o clamp the brush element in place. Is it the n r movable brush element I3, illustrated by itself closed and claimed in the Carothers Patent 2,-

130,948 may also be referred to as a synthetic ber-forming polymeric amide having aproteinlike chemical structure. It is derivable from coal, air and water, or otherV substances, and is characterized by extreme toughness, flexibility and strength and lthe peculiar ability to be formed into fibers as well as various other shapes.

Reference is made to the Carothers patent 'for a disclosure of the method of making the polyamide. For the purposes ofthe present disclosure it is sufficient to say thatbasically the process comprises the polymerization of amino acidsvby heat treatment into a molten massl and in the absence of air preferably in an atmosphere of nitrogen. The product can also be described as produced by the mutual reaction o f a diamine with either a dicarboxylic acid or an amide-forming derivative of a dibasic carboxylic acid. The molten mass can be extruded into a continuous filament, it being necessary only to catch a thread thereof onto a rotating reel. Filament cross sections vary with the temperature of the mass and the rate of rotation of the reel, an increase in temperature and in the rate of reeling producing a finer filament. Continuous filaments can be extruded through a spinnerettecontaining orifices, the extruded filaments passing onto a roat a speed up to 3,000 feet per minute and may be cold-drawn by transferring from one drum onto a second drum which rotates at a higher rate of speed. This cold-drawing process may be carried out rapidly and without the use of plasticizers.k For use in an agitator brush the synthetic filament is preferably drawn to a diameter of approximately .007 to .010 inch and when so drawn has a uniform smooth cross section. When so made the filament has the desired characteristics for brush bristles and is adapted to be embodied in a suction cleaner brush, as wilfbe hereinafter i Figure 3, with which we are particularly interested' in the p esent invention and more particula`rly it is the rush bristles which form the tufts I5 of that brush element.

Referring now to Figure 4, in particular, there is disclosed the method of making equal length artificial fibers in accordance with the present invention. Within a tank T is positioned a molten mass of the artificial organic compound. A filament of the compound has been drawn from the body thereof and passesY upwardly through the v tating drum. These filaments may be extruded cover of thel tank through a. sizing die D which gives to the filament the desired initial diameter although this can also be controlled by varying the temperature of the molten mass and the filament speed. The 'filament of material, which is indicated vby the reference character F, is drawn from the tank by a high speed rotating reel RI and its speed also is a factor determining the initial diameter of the filament drawn from the molten mass. From thereel RI the filament is drawn onto a second reel R2'which has a peripheral speed which is four times that of reel RI. Obviously the filament; is drawn between reel RI and R2 and its length increased four times. This may be varied with different types of material but in the preferred form in which the synthetic organic compound comprises a polyamide the relationship stated is a preferred one. reel R2 the filament passes onto a cutting machine C which is provided with a movable cutter blade B. As illustrated in Figure 4a plurality of filaments are shown passing onto the' cutting machine C. These individual filaments come from a plurality of reels RI and R2 identical in nature to those described above. Of course the filaments can be cut, individually if desired although the desirable factors of speed and timev saving make the method indicated a. preferable one. The filament F after passing through the cutter to the desired extent is severed by. the blade B which may be either automatic or manually operated. Thesevered bristles of equal length are collected in the cutting machine receptacle and are removed by any suitable means.

In Figure 5 is illustrated a second preferred method of making the equal length fibers for the agitator brush in accordanceV with the present invention. Instead of drawing the filament from the molten mass of this synthetic organic compound, the compound is extruded under force from a spinnerette or nozzle N,the diameter of the opening in the nozzle determining the initial with a pulley surface 9 at itslower end extends l downwardly through the fan chamber 6 where it carries the fan 'I. Within the nozzle 4 in a surl faceY contacting position is rotatably mounted an cylindrical body upon the surface of which is positioned a helically extending rigid beater bar I I, and Whch is formed with a brush elementreceiving seat I2 within which is positioned aremovable brush element, indicated generally by the reference character I3. Brush I3 comprises an elongated rigid back I4 in which are secured radially extending brush tufts I5. The inner end diameter of the filament.' lThereafter the filament passes around the reels RI and R2'which are-ider'itical. in structure and function to the reels RI and R2 of the first embodiment. f From agitator I0 which is seen to comprise a suitable the reel R2 the filament passes over and is wound on a'rotating fiat frame Q. Subsequently the filament is removed from the frame and the resultant skein is cut to length upon a cutter C by means of manual or automatic cutter blades BB,

the bent ends of the skein being discarded. In each 'of the methods the stretching and elongation of the filament between the reels RI and R2 of the brush back I4 is seen to underliethe brush 75 functions not only toextend it and reduce its diameter but also gives to the filament a fatigue resistance and physical characteristic which is very desirable and not otherwise obtained.

From the;

ing element 23 which is so shaped as to clamp in a notch 24, formed in the outer face of the feeder element, a desired number of bristles as the feeder oscillates up and down relative to the hopper. element 22 carries the selected bristles indicated at 25, from the full line position illustrated in Figure 6 to the dotted line position in which they are centrally positioned immediately abovea feeder head 26 and immediately below a staple 21 and a forcing needle 28. With the oscillating feeder so positioned the needle 28 moves downwardly until the brush tuft 25 is encircled and caught by the staple 21, as illustrated in Figure '7. The downward needle movement continues until the staple and the brush have been forced downwardly through the feeder head 26 and into the brush tuft seat formed in the rigid brush back Id. Immediately below the back I4 is positioned an anvil 29 formed with upstanding conical pyramids immediately below the brush seat which are adapted to Contact and guide the downwardly extending ends of staple 2l so that upon the continued movement of the needle the staples are deflected laterally into the locking positions, as illustrated in Figure 9; The stapling operation is preferably done one tuft at a time, the brush back being moved relative to the stapling machine to accomplish the successive filling of the individual tuft seats. These seats, as is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 are preferably smooth and rounded at their upper ends to provide enlarged rounded contacting surfaces for the bristle tufts which will be flexed in use. Upon the stapling of the last tuft in the last tuft seat the brush element can be trimmed to provide absolute alignment of the outer ends of the brush tufts and this may be done either with scissors A). or with any suitable trimming machine.

While the brush unit will in the majority of instan-ces be sold Vwith the bristle ends merely trimmed it is important to note that a further change in the character thereof takes place upon the movement of the bristles in frictional contact with a surface covering or other similar surface and that the brush unit does not reach its final form until this change has taken place. This final step can well be left to be carried out by the user for it is quickly accomplished upon the brush unit being mounted upon a suction cleaner agitator and that agitator rotated in a single direction in the cleaner use and ,with the bristles in contact with a surface covering undergoing cleaning. This change comprises the coldflowing of the bristle end from its straight sharply sheared-off condition to a rounded slightly rearwardly-inclined shape as illustrated in Figure l0. Suction cleaner agitators rotate at Very high speeds and in such operation this final step is effected in a minimum time Aand after being eected the brush functions with improved characteristics. Injury to the surface. covering The downward movement of the feeder by abrasion from the sharp, out bristle ends is prevented. The frictional resistance of the brush to movement over the surface covering, and so the resistance to rotation of the entire agitator, is reduced with a resultant lightening of the load upon the driving motor. Naturally, this treatment of the brush unit resulting in the cold-flowing ofthe bristle ends'can be accomplished by similar abrasive "treatments and in other mountings.

With the agitator elements-embodying brush stiffness, which is dependent upon fiber diameter is uniform and may be varied by varying the diameter to any desired degree, a control not at all possible in 'the use of animal bristles. There is less waste in the trimming operation Vof the artificial fibers than when natural animal hair is used. Artificial fibers can be cut to exactv lengths whereas the animalhairs vary materially in length by requiring the scrapping of much hair and the excessive trimming of the remainder to obtain uniformity. The artificial bristles, being all'cut to length require a minimum of trimming. It has been found that the artificial fibers wear much longer than the natural animal fibers, both from the standpoint of total life and from the standpoint of life without deterioration. Reference to Figures 10 and l1 discloses diagrammatically the-wear characteristics of the artificial fiber bristles and the natural animal hair bristles. After wear the former are found to coldil fiow slightly so that the tip thereof is turned rearwardly; an absence of sharpness of points being noted. In Figure l1 the horse hairs are seen to be sharpened at the ends after the same use and in some instances are found to be split. The sharpened and split ends produce greater Vsurface covering wear while the smooth rounded.VV

vends of the artificial fibers have been found Vto reduce the power required for agitator actuation without sacrifice 0f cleaning effectiveness.

1. An agitating brush for a suction cleaner or the like comprising a back and brush bristles of a composition comprising the product of the mutual reaction of a diamine with an amide-forming derivative of a dibasic carboxylic/acid, characterized in that said bristles cold/flow to form sloping rounded end portions upon abrasive contact in one direction with a surface covering.y

2. An agitating brush for a suction cleaner or the like comprising a baci; and brush bristles of a composition comprising the product ofthe mu'- tual reaction of a diamine with a dicarboxylic acid, characterized in that said bristles cold flow to form sloping rounded end portions upon abrasive contact in one direction with a surface Vcovering. v

3. The method of making an agitator brush comprising the step of securing Nylon bristles in a carrying back and moving the assembly relative to a surface in a single direction with the bristle ends in abrasive contact therewith to effect a cold flowing of the bristle ends to a yrounded contour.

DONALD G. SMELLIE. 

